Quick access to Hwy. 99 & 91 from this near new townhome in MIORA
- located near #4 Road & Wetserminster Hwy. Immaculate 3 bedroom, 2-1/2
bath home boasts gourmet kitchen and sunny expansive west backyard.

John
Grauer

Jeff
Thomas

01202600

mhopkins@richmond-news.com

debrobson@remax.net

604.328.3507
www.debrobson.com

check out photos on www.DebRobson.com

Are you STRESSED
about money??
You are NOT alone…
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As a little girl, Joey Kwan remembers
being “absolutely terrified of the lion dance.”
Growing up in Hong Kong, the yearly
Chinese New Year lion dances happened outside on the streets.
“I was about five when my mom took
me to see my first lion dance,” said Kwan,
spokeswoman for Aberdeen Centre. “I
remember thinking it looked like a vicious
unicorn. I couldn’t understand why this big
ugly animal was dancing on the street.
“My mom didn’t explain the meaning of
the dance to me.”
The lion dance dates back thousands of
years and is performed every year on the
first day of Chinese New Year.
According to ancient Chinese legend, a
mythical beast called Nian (meaning year in
Chinese) would come and attack villagers.
Desperate, the villagers asked for the help
of a great colourful lion spirit, who came and
drove Nian away with its loud roar.
The following year, the villagers were
defenseless against Nian because the lion
was too busy protecting the Emperor’s
Palace.

So, the people created a lion out of
colourful fabric and filled it with firecrackers to drive Nian away.
The fake lion was so real looking and so
successful at driving away Nian that every
year since, the lion dance is performed to
frighten away evil spirits and to bring luck,
peace and quiet for the New Year.
“That Chinese belief continues today,”
Kwan said. “Here in Richmond, the lion
dance is becoming more and more similar to
what goes on in Asia.
“However, in Hong Kong some lion dances are performed to hip hop music.”
Aberdeen Centre hosts its eyes dotting
ceremony (which symbolically awakes the
lion) followed by the lion dance on Monday,
Jan. 23 at 11 a.m. in the atrium. Local dignitaries will be invited on stage for the eyes
dotting ceremony.
“It is said that the eyes dotting ceremony
wakes up the dragon and lions,” added
Kwan. “We will have one dragon and eight
lions and they will dance to traditional
Chinese music and drums.
“They will create a lot of the noise to
scare the monsters out.”
For more information, call 604-273-1234
or visit www.aberdeencentre.com.

BY MICHELLE HOPKINS

$538,000

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01202626

01207022

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